The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 58: Confrontation

Chapter 58: Confrontation

When the Marquess got back, he expected three well-behaved children and no crimes committed. Especially, Adeline, he knew that his daughter could not sit still.

Dimitri was such a kind sensible child, he hoped his soft nature would rub off on her.

The Marquess strode through the palace halls. He had just returned from his "business" trip, learning a lot and yet nothing about what to do about Adeline.

As if that was not bad enough, he came to know about what happened at the banquet. The news spread like wildfire.

His daughter, Adeline, had been publicly pushed to get betrothed. He couldn’t imagine how scared she felt. He felt guilty for not being there to stop it.

And worst of all, his old friend, the Emperor, had done nothing to prevent it.

He clenched his fists as he was ushered into the Emperor’s study. He hadn’t even taken the time to see his children first. This matter demanded immediate attention.

As the doors opened he saw the Emperor, sitting behind his ornate desk, glanced up with an amused expression as the Marquess entered.

"Ah, Alastair," the Emperor greeted casually, leaning back in his chair. "What brings you here?"

The Marquess’s sharp eyes flashed with anger. He wasted no time with pleasantries.

"I heard about the banquet," the Marquess began, his voice low and hard. "Your Empress made quite a spectacle of my daughter."

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, but his smile didn’t falter. "Oh? I thought Adeline looked quite beautiful, just like her mother. And the Empress only wished to bestow upon her a gift."

"A gift?" the Marquess snapped. "You mean the pink diamond necklace? The one that essentially declared my daughter would be marrying your son?"

The Emperor’s eyes gleamed with amusement. "What can I say? Would it not be amazing? From friends to in-laws."

Seeing how the Emperor didn’t feel any amount of remorse the Marquess had to stop himself from exploding. "I see that this is all a game to you. I’ll say it only one time, do not touch my children. I will never let them be used for your sick political games."

The Emperor sighed, leaning forward slightly, his smile softening but not disappearing. "I didn’t stop the Empress, no. And I won’t. Politics run this empire... Besides, I find your daughter adorable. Daughters are much cuter, don’t you think? Adeline would make a wonderful daughter-in-law."

The Marquess’s eyes narrowed, and he scoffed. "Stop joking. If you had a daughter, you’d sell her off to the highest bidder for political gain, just like you did with your sisters."

The Emperor didn’t take offence. He simply shrugged. "I suppose you’re right," the Emperor said softly, the humour draining from his voice. "I’ve never been sentimental when it comes to family matters. But that’s what makes me a good emperor, wouldn’t you agree?"

"Keep your schemes out of my house." The Marquess made himself clear.

"Look, I never claimed to be a good husband, brother or friend," the Emperor replied, his tone even. "I am an emperor first and foremost. And that is enough for me."

The Marquess shook his head. He had known him for years, he couldn’t say that power changed him.

He was always like this, it just was amplified once he became the Emperor. He didn’t know what the Emperor wanted, but he would rather Adeline stay unmarried than enter the palace.

"Just tell your wife to back off." The Marquess turned to leave.

"I will, but I can’t guarantee that she’d listen. Don’t be so close-minded Alastair. What if your daughter becomes fond of my son? Would you still stand in the way?"

"I doubt it will. But if it does happen, I want to make sure she does so out of her own choosing and not because someone forced it upon her."

The Emperor watched the Marquess leave in a huff. He didn’t care too much about the words tossed.

He was not the best father, not even close, but he could tell his son liked Adeline. What happens in the future... Who knows?

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"Dad?" Adeline looked out the window to see her father come home.

She was bored out of her mind in class and kept looking out the window and there he was. He was back!

She hopped down and ran out the door.

"Miss! You can’t leave class!" The tutor sighed and shook his head. Being the tutor of the children of the aristocracy was hard. Aristocracy? More like Aristocrazy, he laughed to himself and said, "I have got to write this down."

Adeline ran across the hall shouting so that her brothers knew too.

"Dad came home!!"

Aaron dropped everything and joined Adeline. "Wait for meee!"

He wanted to join her and welcome their father.

Alaric was relieved... He didn’t have to be the man of the house anymore. He was also worried. What would happen if their father found out what happened? Wouldn’t he go... Completely crazy?

"Oh, the Marquess is home!" Dimitri slowly came out of his room, his cheeks were rosy and he was full of health. He even grew tall a little. Adeline pouted in anger because she wasn’t able to grow tall as fast as he could.

He had been thinking about what Annora said even if he didn’t want to. Those words wouldn’t stop running in his mind. He told himself that it didn’t matter, Adeline helped so many people and that’s what mattered.

He flattened out wrinkles on his clothes and joined Alaric as they slowly made their way down the stairs.

The Marquess stepped through the grand doors of his estate, the weight of his recent conversation with the Emperor still lingering on his shoulders. However, that tension lifted slightly as he saw his children.

Alaric and Aaron, stood beside each other, their eyes bright with excitement. His gaze softened when it landed on his youngest, Adeline. She was at the centre.

"Welcome back, Father," Alaric said, his voice steady, while Aaron grinned beside him.

Adeline’s smile grew as she stepped forward. "We missed you."